Driving Range Only

[Patch]

There is a guy I know who frequents the driving range, and short game practice area 4-5 times a week. We run into each other every so often.

Thing is, he does not play very many rounds of actual golf. He's content to just hit practice shots. 

He once told me that if he plays more than once a month, that was a lot for him. That sometimes he might even skip a month, or two. 

From the swings I have seen, it would seem he would have a decent game, although I have never seen him putt. 

I just wonder how many more folks like him are out there. I wonder if some day, if I will be content to just hit balls in the practice area. 

Myself, I practice more than I play, but I practice to play. Once the doc releases me to play on, I will be playing upwards of 54 holes a week, more, or less. 

Does anyone else possibly see themselves some day giving up actual play, and just hitting practice balls?

[Vinsk]

Shanks on the range: discouraging but can soon be overcome.

Shanks on the course: Round is ruined. 

I will continue to play as long as I can. But if I was told I can only practice, I’d be ok with that. It’s better than not swinging at all.

And I have zero interest in Top Golf or any of that type of Tom foolery.

[sofingaw]

I play only once every month or two on average. Twice a month max. For me it’s because my job and family take up a lot of time and focus.  

However, if I could play more I definitely would. And I fully intend to. (Someday...!) And i’m certainly practicing (often) now in order to play better later. 

But if asked right now, I would also be forced to say that more than once a month for me would be a lot. 

Perhaps once I get very old or injured, and can’t hit it far enough to score well, I could be satisfied with only practice. But hopefully that’s many, many seasons from now. 

[Shindig]

There's a guy at my home course like this.  He'll frequently be at the top deck of the range, shirtless, and he'll hit a good hundred or two hundred shots with the same 2-3 irons.  I have never seen him on the course.

There's also a crowd that has a regular bet about putting on the practice greens;  I've never seen them play.  I think some in that group might not own any golf clubs that aren't putters. 

[DaveP043]

I play much more than I practice, but I enjoy my practice session.  Even so, I think that if I really couldn't play on the course again, I probably wouldn't spend time on the practice range.  Practice is meant to improve my on-course game. 

Of course, I can see being in a spot where my social life was largely tied to my club membership, so maybe I WOULD be spending time there, just to hang out with my buddies.  I remember the summer I spent with a broken wrist I'd get to the club at least once a weekend to have a beer and lunch with my friends as they finished their round.

[iacas]

9 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I play much more than I practice, but I enjoy my practice session.  Even so, I think that if I really couldn't play on the course again, I probably wouldn't spend time on the practice range.  Practice is meant to improve my on-course game.

For you.

And, well, for most people (those who even go to the range at all, anyway).

But not for everyone. I know a few people who would rather hit the range than the golf course. One doesn't enjoy putting or bunkers. He just likes hitting his irons and especially his driver. He plays some scrambles. Another doesn't have the time, and doesn't have a group of buddies to play with. So he hits the range for an hour four times a week and goes home. A third just really enjoys hitting the ball. He told me once "on the golf course, I get to hit a ball once every eight minutes or so. On the range, once every minute or two."

Some people just enjoy hitting golf balls. Just like some people just enjoy swimming laps, or going for a jog, or reading a book, or whatever.

[Buckeyebowman]

Back when I could play really well, I spent a lot more time on the range than on the course. That's how I learned to swing a club. Then life intervened, and ate up the time.

At this stage of my life (I'm 65), I'd just as soon go play as go practice. I'll still hit balls once in a while to keep my hand in, but I'd rather play.

This reminds me of something I believe I read in The Bogeyman by George Plimpton. It seems an acquaintance of his was in Japan, and went to one of those multi-deck driving ranges they have there. The guy in the next bay was just murdering a Driver! Turned out the guy spoke a little English, so he was able to strike up a conversation.

He asked the guy what he shot, and the guy replied, "Oh, I do not play, I hit the 1 wood!" If that's what made him happy, good for him!

[MarvChamp]

On 6/1/2018 at 8:42 PM, sofingaw said:

Perhaps once I get very old or injured, and can’t hit it far enough to score well, I could be satisfied with only practice.

I'm old and injured. I keep trying to play because practice only SUCKS! (he said philosophically). 😎 Best, -Marv

[HJJ003]

On 6/1/2018 at 8:42 PM, sofingaw said:

I play only once every month or two on average. Twice a month max. For me it’s because my job and family take up a lot of time and focus. 

Yeah I only play twice a month or so, therefore I have learned to really love practice just so I can get my golf fix in. 

[cooke119]

Now that I am retired I play one or two times a week. I do go to the range but only to work on stuff I'm screwing up on the course. If I couldn't play anymore, because of a physical injury, I would probably sell my clubs and be done with it. Having had several back operations I have had periods of time that I couldn't play or practice, that really sucked. I would watch golf on TV and wish I was back on the course.

[Carl3]

19 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Japan

Reminds me of a golf book I read at one time and I am going from a poor memory, but it went something like this: the setting is The (British) Open in the 1950’s or 60’s and there was a contestant from Japan. He hit a brilliant shot from the tee and then went to hit his second shot from the fairway, which he duffed. He then proceeded to batter the ball all of the way down the fairway to the green. At some point they grabbed him and escorted him away and out of the tournament. It seems that he was a golf “pro” from a driving range in Japan and had never hit off of grass before.

[Piz]

I could see doing that as a kind of physical and mental therapy; but I'd want to get out on a course once in a while.  I used to play music for a semi-living and still keep a bass around, and a guitar, and a baritone uke...but it isn't the same.  

[BaconNEggs]

I enjoy the driving range. Not as much as playing, but it’s much easier to get out, so I hit the range usually twice a week but only play two or three times a month. I’m not sure if I would keep going to the range if I couldn’t play, though. At the end of the day, while I enjoy the range itself, it’s ultimately practice for when I do get out. 

[gregsandiego]

On 6/1/2018 at 2:16 PM, Patch said:

There is a guy I know who frequents the driving range, and short game practice area 4-5 times a week. We run into each other every so often.

Thing is, he does not play very many rounds of actual golf. He's content to just hit practice shots. 

He once told me that if he plays more than once a month, that was a lot for him. That sometimes he might even skip a month, or two. 

From the swings I have seen, it would seem he would have a decent game, although I have never seen him putt. 

I just wonder how many more folks like him are out there. I wonder if some day, if I will be content to just hit balls in the practice area. 

Myself, I practice more than I play, but I practice to play. Once the doc releases me to play on, I will be playing upwards of 54 holes a week, more, or less. 

Does anyone else possibly see themselves some day giving up actual play, and just hitting practice balls?

Like a lot here I practice as a 2nd choice and to support the "real" golf which is 18 holes. Where i practice in San Diego there are a few regulars I've heard referred to as "range rats".

With my shoulder injury right now I don't think I can play real golf so the most I have been doing is a bucket of  balls with my 58.

 

4 hours ago, BaconNEggs said:

I enjoy the driving range. Not as much as playing, but it’s much easier to get out, so I hit the range usually twice a week but only play two or three times a month. I’m not sure if I would keep going to the range if I couldn’t play, though. At the end of the day, while I enjoy the range itself, it’s ultimately practice for when I do get out. 

Exactly the same for me. I pay $30 per moth for "Players Club" which gives you 2 buckets a day! I don't come close to using that. More like 2 buckets per weekend.

[MarvChamp]

8 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

With my shoulder injury right now I don't think I can play real golf so the most I have been doing is a bucket of  balls with my 58.

Sure sympathize. Received a steroid injection last week that lets me hit short and mid-irons. But all shots are woefully short(er). Hoping to try to play this week, regardless of score. Keep doing your shoulder exercises! Best wishes, -Marv

[Moxley]

9 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

With my shoulder injury right now I don't think I can play real golf so the most I have been doing is a bucket of  balls with my 58.

 

I have back problems, and that's the reason that I mostly stay away from the range. Hitting balls puts strain on the back, while walking (and I always walk,  being in the UK) helps, so the two offset each other nicely. 

I also see going to the range more of a chore, but obviously we're all different in that respect. 
 

[mcanadiens]

Given my form (or total lack there of) more time should be spent on the range, but its really hard for me stay off the course when I have the opportunity.

True range-only sessions generally only happen when I can fit them between work and dinner or between other weekend activities. 

[NoName]

Reading through some older threads, I took the advice of a few people here and decided to spend more time out on the golf course, rather than at the driving range. And I do have to say, that my swing has gotten consistently better being out on the golf course. The driving range is nice and all (and I still frequent it once, twice a week), but being out on the golfing course just feels better, more natural to me. In MY opinion. I assume it's a mental thing.